T-Mobile's 'Un-carrier 4.0' promo offers to pay early termination fees for switching
T-Mobile on Wednesday announced its latest plan to disrupt the U.S. wireless industry with "Un-carrier 4.0," a promotion that promises to pay customers' early termination fees when switching carriers.
Along with the $350 per line, T-Mobile is also offering up to $300 for device trade-ins under the Un-carrier 4.0 program, bringing the value of switching up to $650 per line. To be eligible for the payout, customers must currently be subscribers of AT&T, Verizon or Sprint services.
"We're giving families a 'Get Out of Jail Free Card,' said T-Mobile's president and CEO John Legere. "Carriers have counted on staggered contract end dates and hefty early termination fees to keep people bound to them forever. But now families can switch to T-Mobile without paying a single red cent to leave them behind."
The program starts on Thursday and switching looks to be a simple process. Customers selecting the postpaid Simple Choice Plan first have the option of trading in their current phone, which can be worth up to $300 in instant credit to be applied to an eligible handset. After receiving the final bill from their previous carrier -- including early termination fees -- customers can send in the document for reimbursement up to $350 per line.
T-Mobile is now an Apple partner carrier and sells both the iPhone 5s and 5c, sometimes at a deep discount to spur sales.
Legere made the Un-carrier 4.0 announcement during a speech at CES, where he is touting the new initiative and getting into a bit of trouble along the way. On Monday, Legere tried to "crash" AT&T's developer party and was promptly escorted out after claims he was harassing guests. For his part, Legere said he just wanted to see Macklemore perform.
Along with the $350 per line, T-Mobile is also offering up to $300 for device trade-ins under the Un-carrier 4.0 program, bringing the value of switching up to $650 per line. To be eligible for the payout, customers must currently be subscribers of AT&T, Verizon or Sprint services.
"We're giving families a 'Get Out of Jail Free Card,' said T-Mobile's president and CEO John Legere. "Carriers have counted on staggered contract end dates and hefty early termination fees to keep people bound to them forever. But now families can switch to T-Mobile without paying a single red cent to leave them behind."
The program starts on Thursday and switching looks to be a simple process. Customers selecting the postpaid Simple Choice Plan first have the option of trading in their current phone, which can be worth up to $300 in instant credit to be applied to an eligible handset. After receiving the final bill from their previous carrier -- including early termination fees -- customers can send in the document for reimbursement up to $350 per line.
T-Mobile is now an Apple partner carrier and sells both the iPhone 5s and 5c, sometimes at a deep discount to spur sales.
Legere made the Un-carrier 4.0 announcement during a speech at CES, where he is touting the new initiative and getting into a bit of trouble along the way. On Monday, Legere tried to "crash" AT&T's developer party and was promptly escorted out after claims he was harassing guests. For his part, Legere said he just wanted to see Macklemore perform.
Comments
http://www.att.com/att/switcherpromo/#fbid=tW0dluAJBSW
That’s a kiss goodbye at an Android device, at least.
I'm impressed with T-Mobile, lately! I soon will be buying my 5s outright and going with T-Mobile.
The other telco's are fat and complacent which allows T-Mobile to "back-door" them figuratively and literally!
Sounds great for most postpaid plans, unless you're on one of those monthly phone installment plans. They will cover the ETF, but you're on your own paying off the balance of your phone.
Cringe-worthy photo. Smug blowing a kiss at a phone?!? But, man, I'm popping some popcorn and getting ready to watch this fight. Go get 'em ATT. Go for it "un-carrier".
http://www.att.com/att/switcherpromo/#fbid=tW0dluAJBSW
The particulars of their plans are cringe worthy. They aren't even remotely price competitive. If you take the entire promo and apply it to your bill they almost become competitive with Tmobile.
I will never go back to the big 3. T-Mobile has thoroughly impressed me. Granted their data coverage is still building, but if they start getting more and more people to sign up, they can add more and more coverage. I'd love to see them take Speints place.
Sprint is god awful and now there are still rumors of them trying to buy Tmobile. I hope such offers are both rebutted and denied by regulatory agencies. Tmobile is really great in metro areas and even a bit out from them. When I travel from California to Arizona I get coverage as far out as Indio as an example and Hesperia on the way to Nevada. However there are still huge swathes of freeway without 3/4g coverage. I personally don't care because I tend to catch up on podcasts when driving distance but still needs to be addressed.
I like T-Mo and I am going to switch. But, this 4.0 plan is not as good as it sounds. To get the ETF rebate from T-Mo, you have to trade-in your current phone and buy one from T-Mo for full price. They don't give you much for the trade-in.
For example, for an iPhone 5c (AT&T), the trade-in value is $213. The full price on this iPhone is $649 plus tax.
Essentially, T-Mo will make a profit on the trade-in, and lose on the ETF rebate. So, for them, it's a wash (more or less, I'm guessing)
I will be switching, but my AT&T phones will work on T-Mo. The Uncarrier 4.0 plan is of no value to me.
Yeah I've read about them wanting to buy it. I had sprint for a short stint and was not thrilled.
T-Mobile will get there as far as data coverage, especially if they continue to stay a treat to the big 3. T-mobile is the leader right now as far as innovation, and I'm happy about that.
Eventually people will get tired of being raped by the other and wise up and switch.
I like T-Mo and I am going to switch. But, this 4.0 plan is not as good as it sounds. To get the ETF rebate from T-Mo, you have to trade-in your current phone and buy one from T-Mo for full price. They don't give you much for the trade-in.
For example, for an iPhone 5c (AT&T), the trade-in value is $213. The full price on this iPhone is $649 plus tax.
Essentially, T-Mo will make a profit on the trade-in, and lose on the ETF rebate. So, for them, it's a wash (more or less, I'm guessing)
I will be switching, but my AT&T phones will work on T-Mo. The Uncarrier 4.0 plan is of no value to me.
It's a good deal, IMO. Here is my logic:
You paid AT&T $99 for your 5c. You sell it privately and get top dollar. $500 on CL, eBay, whatever. Great $500, that's more then twice what T-Mo would pay you. However, it cost $99 to get the phone, before you could sell it. $500-$100 = $400. Now comes the ETF. Let's say you jumped on the 5c on launch day. AT&T gives you a credit on your ETF of $10 per month paid, $325-$30=$295. So $400-$295 (ETF) = $105.
T-Mo, on the other hand, will pay your ETF, then pay you $213 for the phone. $213 > $105. Trade in to T-mo is the better deal.
Sure you have to repurchase your phone, but depending on what you currently pay. The phone will be paid off quickly, then start saving you money. Especially if you can get a one or two family members in on one of T-Mobiles Family Plan things.
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I like T-Mo and I am going to switch. But, this 4.0 plan is not as good as it sounds. To get the ETF rebate from T-Mo, you have to trade-in your current phone and buy one from T-Mo for full price. They don't give you much for the trade-in[/quote]
That doesn't seem to be true. It doesn't say anything about having to trade in a phone.
[quote]Customers selecting the postpaid Simple Choice Plan first have the option of trading in their current phone[/quote]
Option. And it also says nothing about paying full price for your next device.
I like T-Mo and I am going to switch. But, this 4.0 plan is not as good as it sounds. To get the ETF rebate from T-Mo, you have to trade-in your current phone and buy one from T-Mo for full price. They don't give you much for the trade-in.
For example, for an iPhone 5c (AT&T), the trade-in value is $213. The full price on this iPhone is $649 plus tax.
Essentially, T-Mo will make a profit on the trade-in, and lose on the ETF rebate. So, for them, it's a wash (more or less, I'm guessing)
I will be switching, but my AT&T phones will work on T-Mo. The Uncarrier 4.0 plan is of no value to me.
The target of uncarrier 4 is those people who are under contract but want to be out early. Trade-in is an option.
We recently switched to Verizon and got a 5s and 5c. If I were to take advantage of this offer, would I need to sell my iPhone and buy ones that work on T-Mobile? Or will our new Verizon phones work on T-Mobile?
Also, I read this on one website but not sure if I'm understanding it correctly: If I were to leave Verizon and pay the ETF, would our phones be considered "unlocked" or would that require an additional step as AT&T has traditionally required?
It doesn't say anything about having to trade in a phone.
I thought this was the case too but, according to T-Mobile's website, you have to trade in a phone. Kind of eliminates any value of the offer considering you have to take a loss on your phone... even if you plan on, for example, switching from a Verizon 5s to a T-Mobile 5s.
"We'll pay the other guy's $350 for your ETF as long as you give us a $650 phone, we'll give you $300, and then you have to pay $600 for the same phone you just traded in."